From 05de2f967e702a741a2d8e1734629e8a3a968519 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tyler Kelley Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2024 07:34:22 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Create What Is NixOS --- What-Is-NixOS.md | 10 ++++++++++ 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+) create mode 100644 What-Is-NixOS.md diff --git a/What-Is-NixOS.md b/What-Is-NixOS.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb8991d --- /dev/null +++ b/What-Is-NixOS.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +NixOS is a Linux distribution known for its unique approach to package management and system configuration. It uses the Nix package manager, which is based on a purely functional approach to managing software and system configurations. + +In NixOS, the entire operating system configuration is described declaratively in a configuration file, allowing for reproducibility and easy rollbacks. This means that changes to the system can be tracked and reversed, making it robust and reliable for system administrators and developers. + +From [Keir Williams](https://medium.com/version-1/explore-nixos-a-dive-into-the-world-of-declarative-linux-63735ee3be41): +"At the core of NixOS is a configuration file, written in the Nix language. This Nix expression is used to specify packages, users, groups, services, networking, and a whole set of other things typically configured on a Linux system. + +Due to the nature of the Nix language, the system is configured completely declaratively. You specify what you want to achieve on your system, instead of specifying the step-by-step commands required to accomplish it. Using NixOS’s built-in configuration options, you can specify how you want the system to look in a manner that is logical to you. How things are built is calculated by Nix itself." + +Inside of NixOS those of you who are used to Linux distributions such as Arch where there is an extra repository with almost any package you may need, will be surprised. Nixpkgs has over 80,000 packages in its repositories with many of the packages you might otherwise need something like the AUR for. \ No newline at end of file